Labour Legislation, closer to EU standards in the fields of pay transparency and platform work

Moldova is advancing efforts to align its labour legislation with EU standards, with particular focus on two major and complex areas of recent EU labour law: pay transparency and platform work.

As part of the ongoing cooperation under the EU-Denmark funded Moldova is Europe project, support has been provided to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in the process of transposing two key EU directives: the EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive 2023/970) and the EU Platform Work Directive (Directive 2024/2831).

Adopted in May 2023, the EU Pay Transparency Directive establishes measures aimed at ensuring the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between women and men.

Its transposition will require, among other measures, the development of a clear approach to determining work of equal value at enterprise level, as well as mechanisms for monitoring compliance and addressing potential pay inequalities. Public authorities will also have an important role in collecting and analysing relevant data and enforcing the applicable rules.

For the Republic of Moldova, the proposed institutional framework envisages an important role for the State Labour Inspectorate and the Equality Council in implementing and enforcing the new requirements.

The EU Platform Work Directive, adopted in November 2024, seeks to improve working conditions and strengthen the rights of people working through digital labour platforms, including those providing taxi, food delivery and cargo delivery services.

One of the directive’s key innovations is the establishment of a legal presumption of employment where digital labour platforms exercise control and direction over the work performed. The directive also introduces rules aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the management of workers through algorithmic systems.

The transposition process involved an assessment of different regulatory options, taking into account Moldova’s legal framework and administrative capacities. Comparative analysis of approaches and good practices from relevant EU Member States has also been carried out to identify solutions that could be effectively adapted to the Moldovan context.

The process included consultations with key stakeholders, including trade unions, employers, public authorities and civil society representatives. Their contributions have been taken into account in developing the proposed recommendations.

Based on this work, draft legislative amendments required for the transposition of the two EU directives have been prepared, with particular attention to amendments to the Labour Code and related legislation.

The transposition of these directives represents an important step in Moldova’s efforts to bring its labour legislation closer to EU standards, while ensuring that the proposed reforms are compatible with the country’s legal framework and institutional capacity.